of it may be discerned for years after the child is allowed to be capable of instruction, What is the true character and tendency of this course of proceeding? It unques tionably fosters those seeds of evil which abound in our nature. Is man naturally self-indulgent? What then must be the effect of a studied system of indulgence? Is he impatient, and passionate, and vindictive? How greatly must these dispositions be cherished, by not only permitting but encouraging their gratification! Is he disposed, when in pursuit of favourite objects, to be little scrupulous with respect to violations of plain-dealing and truth? The artifices resorted to by nurses and female relations would almost create such a disposition, were it not originally planted in his bosom. With what eyes then must the Almighty look upon such a course of proceeding! It would be trifling with your readers to pursue this topic any farther. But now we proceed to the important inquiry, What system of management ought to be substituted in the place of that which has been described? All persons who do not think that a plea of necessity (a very unfounded plea, however, in the present case), may be urged in favour of the practice of positive evil, must allow, that every thing should be avoided by mothers and nurses which has a tendency to cherish and bring into activity that evil nature, which your readers at least will not deny that we all bring into the world. They will grant, therefore, that Nanny, or the cat, or the chair, are not to be slapped because they happen to have displeased the child. But must not we confine ourselves to mere abstinence from fostering evils? Is it not visionary and chimerical to attempt to check bad tempers and ba bits, and to lay a foundation for good ones? Or if an attempt of this kind be not altogether hopeless, is it not at least unnecessary to make it at so early a period, when little success can be expected; and most advisable to defer it till the reason of the child is further advanced, and its ability to submit to discipline is greater? My experience gives me a view of parental duty very different from that to which these questions would lead. The Almighty Creator very soon begins to unfold in man those intellectual and moral faculties which are destined, when rightly employed, to qualify him for the highest services and enjoyments through the ages of eter-> nity. In a few weeks after its birth, a child's reason begins to dawn; and with the first dawn of reason ought to commence the moral culture which may be best suited to counteract the evils of its nature, and to prepare the way for that radical change, that new birth promised in baptism, and the darling object of the hopes of every parent who looks on the covenants in that holy rite, not as forms, but as realities. Let me appeal to every mother who delights to view her infant as it lies in her lap, whether it does not soon begin to read "the human face divine," to recognize her smile, and to shew itself sensible of her affection in the little arts she employs to entertain it. Does it not, in no long time, return that smile, and repay her maternal caresses with looks and motions so expressive that she cannot mistake their import? She will not doubt, then, the importance of fostering in its bosom those benevolent sympathies which delight her, by banishing from her nursery whatever is likely to counteract them. She will not tolerate in a nurse that selfish indifference to the wants of an infant, which sometimes leaves it to cry while she finishes her breakfast, or chats with a companion. Much less will she tolerate passionate snatches, and scolding names, and hard and impatient tones of voice, in the management of her child. 1 may be pronounced fanciful, perhaps, but I cer tainly think it would be of importance to keep sour and ill-humoured faces out of a nursery, even though such faces were not commonly accompanied by corresponding conduct. I am persuaded that I have seen a very bad effect produced by a face of this kind on the countenance and mind of an infant. Is it not reasonable to suppose, that if an infant sympathises with a smile, it may also sympathise with a scowl, and catch somewhat of the inward disposition which distorts the fea tures of the nurse? Thus begin the efforts of a parent to cherish all that is benevolent and affectionate in the bosom of a child; and to prevent the growth of every thing of an opposite nature. And who shall presume to assign limits to the importance of such efforts in the education of a being whose leading disposition, if it fulfil the will of its Maker, must, both through life and through all eternity, be love? But parental cares soon extend. In a short time, impatience and selfishness shew themselves, and are accompanied by fretfulness, jealousy, anger, and envy. At so early a period does innate corruption display its powers, and call for the restraining hand of a parent! But how are these evils to be counteracted at an age when both the body and mind are so tender, and when neither arguments nor explanations can be understood? Undoubtedly great delicacy of treatment is required. The character of the child must be studied; and, if possible, such corrections of evils must be applied as will not deeply wound its feelings. It is surprising what female ingenuity, quickened by maternal tenderness, will achieve in this way. Does a child, too young to listen to reason, want something it ought not to have? Its mother will suddenly turn its attention to another object, and thus prevent the rise of improper tempers, or arrest them in their course. Is it jealous of the attention paid to a brother? While she perseveres, perhaps, in shewing to the brother the kindness which has raised this jealousy, she will pour such a stream of affec tion on both the children as sbal But how, some parents may ask, how can this be effected at so tender an age? It seems to us impossible. Believe me, much may be done, with very young children, by plac ing gradually before them, with cheerfulness and affection, and in a spirit suited to the occasion, religi ous truths, associated as much as may be with images pleasing to their minds. The appellations, God, and Jesus, should soon be made familiar to them; and the dwelling-place of these great Beings may be so pointed out and describ ed; and their power and their holiness, and more especially their love, may be so set forth and brought home to the feelings, by little and simple illustrations, that, while the 3 18 tender mind is imbued with the first rudiments of religious knowledge, reverence and affection for divine things shall, if God smile on the endeavour, be excited in the heart. But special care must be taken not to give fatiguing lectures, nor to make too powerful calls on the feelings. "Here a little and there a little," must be the parent's motto in conveying instruction at this age; and for that little, the seasons must be chosen, when the child is most likely to lend a willing ear; and the subject must always be dropped before it becomes tiresome, unless there be some very pressing call for its being continued; in which case, indeed, the occasion itself will generally make it interesting. Very short and simple stories from Holy Writ may be employed with great advantage: as that of Jesus taking the little children in his arms, and blessing them; that of his restoring the widow's son to life; and many others. If these are told in a cheerful manner, and with such little appropriate touches as will present the scene to the imagination of the child, they will seldom fail to delight it, and will be called for again and again. When they are fixed in its memory, it is evident with what great advantage reference may be made to them when the parent finds occasion to have recourse to dissuasion, or reproof, or exhortation. In conveying instruction, it is a most important point for the parent always to bear in mind, that far more may be done by exciting the sympathy of the child than by appealing to its reason. Things indeed should always be presented to it in the garb of truth and good sense; but, unless its feelings are in unison with its convictions, it may be perfectly persuaded of truths without being influenced by them in practice. And how are the appropriate feelings to be excited in its bosom? Chiefly by the feelings, of the parent being in unison with the subject on which he speaks. Is he dwelling on the greatness of God, or on his all-seeing eye, or on his eternity, or on his glory? Let his own heart harmonise with his lofty theme, and probably the right string in that of his child will vibrate. Is he describing the Divine love, and tenderness, and mercy, especially as exemplified in Jesus Christ? If his own feelings are impressed by the view of the picture he presents, those of his child are not likely to be altogether unmoved. But reverse the case as to the parent, and what is to be expected from the child? Who can be so absurd as to hope, that, when religious truths are taught as a schoolmaster teaches the grammar, good impressions will be made on the heart? Do we see, in fact, that when the Catechism is so taught, any such impression is made? Step into a village school where that excellent compendium of our holy religion has been learnt merely as a task, and you will find the children as little affected by its truths (even if they understand it) as they are by the lessons in their spelling-book. One would almost think that they conceived it pointed out the high privileges and the sacred duties of the man in the moon, and that they had nothing to do with it but to get it by heart. Few, if any, parents, it is hoped, who make religion a branch of education, proceed in a way so utterly irrational as the generality of village schoolmasters; but in whatever degree they approach to the village-school system, in that degree must they look for a similar result. If "Si vis me flere, dolendum est Primum ipsi tibi," be a just description of human nature, when applied to adults, it is doubly and trebly so in the case of children. Adults have been used to attach certain feelings to certain circumstances in life, and the recurrence of the latter will do much towards exciting the former; but children have not yet learnt (except in some obvious instances) how the events of life will influence their welfare, and therefore it is no wonder that their feelings should not be excited, until they see how others feel. The great Creator has ordained, that in early childhood all the powers and faculties of man are placed under the guidance, and in a very great degree under the forming hand, of his parents. His feelings are as ready as his intellectual powers to take the impression that may be given them. How strong are the prejudices imbibed from parents in early youth! When pains are taken to produce a similarity, how strongly do we see the prominent features in the manners, habits, and feelings of parents reflected in their offspring! A little gipsey is an adult gipsey in miniature. I am told that among the Gentoos a like similarity is very apparent; and I have myself been struck by it among the Quakers, a sect whom I by no means mention to dishonour. Why may not the potent engine which produces such striking effects among these and other classes of men, and often promotes feelings and habits adverse to good sense and propriety, to good order, or to true religion, be employed in favour of the best interests of man, and the glory of God? To suffer it to lie idle, is sin and folly. But in fact it will not be absolutely idle. Something or other children will always be catching from their parents; and through the corrupt bias of human nature, they will be far more ready to catch the evil than the good and even in copying what is innocent, if not positively good, in parents, they will be very apt to give it some turn, or associate it with some bad quality, which may make it subservient to evil. What then is likely to be the effect of negligence in this great point? In truth, can we look around us, and not have lamentable proofs of its effect? How many children of good parents do we see imitating little in parental example but neglect of duty! In the parent, this neglect has been chiefly visible perhaps in education; but the child, as might be expected, extends it much farther. Or, suppose the parent to be led by a blind fondness to humour his child, to overlook his faults, and to allow himself to omit the present duty of restraining and rulinghim, under some vague hope that a more favourable time will arrive for the exercise of his power, or that God will in his own time, by his own providence, and the teaching of his own Spirit, correct the faults which the father tolerates. Shall we not be extremely likely to find that a child so educated will chiefly resemble his parent in giving way to self-delusion and self-indulgence, and in indistinct and unscriptural reliance on future providences, to the neglect of present duties? But it is not only by copying his faults that a child de rives evil from a parent: if care be not taken, qualities and habits innocent, or even commendable, will be so caught or so imitated by the child as to administer to the gratification of his evil passions. Is the parent energetic? Let him guard against his child's adopting his energy as an engine of pride or ambition. Is he jocose? His playful humour may be imitated by the child for the purpose of putting by serious thought or vigorous application; or of indulging in ridicule or satire; or of practising tricks not consistent with simplicity and sincerity of charac ter, and employed probably for selfish purposes. Nay, unless care be taken, piety itself in a parent, that child of Heaven, may lead to fanaticism, or cant, or hypocrisy in a child. Tones and gestures, which (though, as I think, to be avoided) are in the parent the fruit of true communion with his Maker, often become quite disgusting or pitiable in the child, not being con nected with those deep devotional feelings which them tolerable; or, if so connected, being utterly unsuited to his age. can alone make This subject might be pursued further: but enough has been said to excite the reflections of well- the influence of those subordinate meaning parents; and those reflec- causes which he has laid down, is tions will naturally point to the it not still the fact, that the grand particular circumstances of each reason of the impression which evanindividual, and be far more useful gelical preaching produces, is to be than any thing I could add. No one found in the weighty, the solemn, can doubt the deep responsibility of the interesting, the irresistible imevery parent to make a good use of port of the great truths which such his power over the dispositions and a species of preaching conveys! Is affections of his offspring. And there not that in the Gospel of Christ since, in exercising that power, which, independent of external cirnothing will be so operative as his cumstances, and in defiance of the deown example, how earnest should termined hardness of the human heart, he be, that the light which shines forces its way to the conscience? forth from him may be the true Do not multitudes of men, who still light of the Gospel, purified as much persist in rejecting the direct and as may be from every thing that experimental purpose of the Bible, may obscure or defile it! And also nevertheless feel themselves bound, how earnest should he be to join to as by the spell of conscience, to atsuch an example a sagacious watch- tend constantly on religious ordifulness, and even a holy jealousy, nances? In this lies the triumph of to prevent his child from misunder- truth; here reigns the supremacy of standing his example, or the prin- religion; even when that truth is ciples and motives from which it secretly opposed, and that religion springs; and to prevent a perverse practically denied. Evangelical or deceptious use being made of it! preachers of the present day, like their apostolic predecessors, may say, "We are made manifest unto God, and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences." (To be continued.) B. T. To the Editor of the Christian Observer. Your correspondent, having stated his opinion how matters stand in the Establishment, wishes some competent Dissenter to come forward and inform him, "whether, in their congregations, the indigent members exceed in numbers or spiritual excellence the more affluent." Without pretending to any extraordinary means of information on the general state of the Dissenting Churches, I will satisfy his inquiry to the best of my ability. One cannot but wish, indeed, that the question had been a little more distinctly stated; for there is, at present, some uncertainty in fixing the design of the term "indigent," which he has introduced. If by this distinction he meant those who are totally or partially dependent on parochial ail for their subsistence, we can readily answer, that, in general, very few of this class are to be found among our regular worshippers; and that for several obvious reasons, such as |